The turtle and the gecko

That the Lonely Planet publication on Bali and Lombok has been helpful to us would be an understatement. It has been a steady companion on this trip, and while we have trusted local verdicts and our instinct, LP has often nudged us in the right direction when we've been flooded with options.

One such nugget we discovered amongst the plethora of attractions in Ubud is the Pondok Kekak Library & Learning Centre. Located next to a football field off Jalan Dewi Sita, this centre offers painting, dance, music, jewellery-making, language and wood carving courses. Access to the library is available for members, and a few books are also on sale. The reading area is pleasant, though located near the area where the courses are being taught, and can be a bit noisy at times. There is a small cafe outside the library for light meals too. One of the highlights of this place is that it offers refillable drinking water at nominal prices, helping in Bali's endeavour to reduce the plastic waste around.

The other highlights are the excellent courses it offers for beginners. We were fascinated with the wood carving course and, for Rp 200,000 per person for a three-hour course that provides the wood and other equipment, thought it was a bargain. And regardless of how it turns out, you get to keep what you make! The Balinese masks looked the most intriguing, but usually require 3-5 sessions for beginners, so we decided to stick with something simpler. Shamin chose the turtle, I went for the gecko.

Our instructor was helpful, explaining the right way to chisel off the wood, and occasionally stopping us when we used too much force or chiseled in the wrong direction. It was hard work, every blow making us appreciate the effort that went into professional wood carvings that much more. Our backs and arms were not ready for this, and they yearned for a break with every passing hour. We kept our zealousness in check for four hours though, an hour longer than we initially thought, and ensured both our pets had their heads and limbs intact at the end. The results were very satisfying, and while our masterpieces may not fetch a premium at Christie's, they were a priceless memory for us.